TO
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of Commerce
The Secretary of Agriculture
The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
The Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Director, National Science Foundation
The Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
The Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology
SUBJECT
Large-Scale Scientific or Technological Experiments
with Possible Adverse Environmental Effects

I have approved the following policy guides governing the conduct of large-scale scientific or technological experiments that might
have significant or protracted effects on the physical or biological environment. Experiments which by their nature could result in
domestic or foreign allegations that they might have such effects will be included in this category even though the sponsoring
agency feels confident that such allegations would in fact prove to be unfounded.

1. The head of any agency that proposes to undertake a large-scale scientific or technological experiment that might have
significant or protracted effects on the physical or biological environment will call such proposals to the attention of the Special
Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. Notification of such experiments will be given sufficiently in advance that
they may be modified, postponed, or cancelled, if such action is judged necessary in the national interest.

2. In support of proposals for such experiments, the sponsoring agency will prepare for the Special Assistant for Science and
Technology a detailed evaluation of the importance of the particular experiment and the possible direct or indirect effects that might
be associated with it.

3. The Special Assistant for Science and Technology will review the proposals and supporting materials presented by the
sponsoring agency in order to assure that the need for the experiment has been properly weighed against possible adverse
environmental effects.

4. On the basis of this review, the Special Assistant for Science and Technology will recommend to me what action should be
taken on the proposed experiment. If the Special Assistant judges that inadequate information is available on which to make a
judgment, he may request that additional studies be undertaken by the sponsoring agency or he may undertake an independent
study of the problem.

5. Any experiment that may involve significant or protracted adverse effects will not be conducted without my prior approval.

6. In the case of experiments (such as atmospheric nuclear tests) that have major national security implications, the head of the
sponsoring agency will notify the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs as well as the Special Assistant for Science and
Technology and will supply both with an evaluation of the importance of the particular experiment and the possible direct or indirect
effects that might be associated with it. The Special Assistant for National Security Affairs will determine on an individual case
basis the procedure to be followed in reviewing these experiments in order to assure that the need for the experiment has been
properly weighed against possible adverse environmental effects.

7. To the extent that it is consistent with national security and subsequent to approval, there should be early and widespread
dissemination of public information explaining experiments of this type.

8. While the final decision to conduct such experiments must continue to reside with the government, the National Academy of
Sciences and where appropriate international scientific bodies or intergovernmental organizations may be consulted in the case
of those experiments that might have adverse environmental effects beyond the U.S. Recommendation on the advisability of this
course of action will be made by the Special Assistant for Science and Technology in consultation with the sponsoring agency and
the State Department.